Liverpool top Premier League table again even as Jurgen Klopp stresses on 'enjoying journey'

Liverpool did what they were expected to do and hammered relegated Huddersfield Town to keep the pressure on Manchester City for the Premier League title. Jurgen Klopp’s side, who won 5-0 and went back to the top of the table, have dropped only four points at home all season. Liverpool have 91 points from 36 games. In a normal season they would be champions for the first time in 29 years – and their fans were singing “Liverpool top of the league” after Mohamed Salah score their fifth goal in the 83rd minute – but this is not a normal season. It was Liverpool’s 10th straight league win. But defending champions Manchester City have won 11 consecutive games and, while they are two points behind, have a game behind and are favourites to retain their title. The games are running out for City to slip up, but Liverpool fans retain fading hope. The atmosphere was positive around Anfield pre-match with fans talking about their trip to Barcelona and a singer chiming ‘Allez Allez Allez’ in the rain of the Paisley Square outside the Spion Kop. “This has been a terrific season and as Klopp says, it’s not always about where you end up but about enjoying the journey,” said Steven Kelly, a lifelong fan who has written a dozen books on the club. “We’ve seen fast attacking football and if Liverpool don’t win the title – and I’m beginning to think they won’t – it will still have been a hugely successful and enjoyable season.” Liverpool have that Uefa Champions League semi-final on Wednesday and travel to Barcelona in an assured mood. They do so having won their penultimate home league game in style, and reduced the goal difference gap on City from seven to two. Liverpool’s 53 home league goals so far is their highest total since 1988, a bygone era when they won league titles. A cold blustery evening started with a silence for former captain Tommy Smith who passed away recently. Then, 14 seconds into the game, Naby Keita put his team head. Great teams have effective full-backs and in Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool boast a consistently excellent pair. Alexander-Arnold’s crossing is pin point and the sell-out section of Huddersfield fans watched their team pounded in the first half. Huddersfield have lost 21 of their last 23 games and have won just four points since November. Behind him, goalkeeper Alisson Becker kept his 20th clean sheet of the season. Virgil van Dijk is the best defender in the Premier League, and he started the move which led to their second goal, striding forward and passing to Robertson to cross for Sadio Mane for his 23rd goal of the season in the 23rd minute. An Alexander-Arnold assist for Salah allowed him to made in 3-0 just before half time in his 100th game for the club. Liverpool looked dangerous every time they attacked, their passes cutting between the Terriers’ lines. They had 70 per cent of possession and 21 shots to Huddersfield’s five – just one on target. Salah, the best player on the pitch, had eight of Liverpool’s shots. Jordan Henderson – a major influence on the game – supplied the ball which allowed Mane to the fourth with a powerful header after 66 minutes, and Salah the fifth after 83 when he rolled the ball into an empty net. It was his 69th goal in those 100 games. Great teams also win trophies. Liverpool have yet to win one under Klopp, who was delighted with his side’s performance, saying: “It’s a good team eh? Ninety-one points is crazy. It’s only because the boys play like they play. And in the end, we cannot do more than win these games. “After City won against United, the next morning the mood was really good, nothing changed. If we can have 97 [points], then let’s go for it. “We want to create our own history. These boys are outstanding. That is the reason why we are where we are.” Liverpool are still in with a chance of two trophies. They play Newcastle United away next weekend and Wolverhampton Wanderers at home on the final day. Meanwhile, City are at Burnley on Saturday against a team who they have twice beaten 5-0 this season, then play Leicester City at home. Leicester beat City at home this season, before the blues make a trip to a Brighton & Hove Albion side fighting relegation. It is going to be tight, it is likely to go to the last day and both team are going to come close to reaching 100. That is how good they have been this season.

Liverpool top Premier League table again even as Jurgen Klopp stresses on 'enjoying journey'

After 5-0 win over Huddersfield, Klopp's men put pressure on Man City who have a game in hand and are title favourites